PIRATES NEED STEEL OF OLD

The Ghost are not getting the desired result from the club for the undying loyalty they've showered on the team.

This was evident on Saturday night when thousands of The Ghost braved the cold and came to the Johannesburg Stadium in big numbers as their team hosted SuperSport United.

But what did the black, red and white outfit give back?

A 1-0 defeat which was their fourth in 14 matches.

The Pretoria side's slender margin, courtesy of a headed goal by defender Rudi Isaacs in the first half, moved them to the top of the table.

Disappointed Ghosts displayed their distrust of Pirates by making their way out four minutes into referees added-on time.

A lot can happen in those minutes but not for the Pirates team that played as if still stuck on Christmas festivities.

Instead of them playing ball, it was the ball that played them. Their ball control was appalling while their passes went astray. The sooner Pirates get a mifielder of John Moeti, Thabo Mngomeni or Benedict Vilakazi's calibre, the better.

Teko Modise cannot do it all by himself. He is no Moeti, Mngomeni or Vilakazi, who were made of sterner stuff. They made life easier for their striker - something Gilbert Mushangazhike would give his back teeth for.

The striker played the better part of the game with his back against United's posts. Most balls intended for him landed on Thembile Kanono who seemed allergic to the ball, quickly kicking it away, affording United keeper Denis Onyango a holiday. Mushangazhike was later replaced for Reason Chiloane but his introduction and that of S'Phelele Mthembu made no difference.

Pirates recovered from a header by Masibusane Zongo but were still dazed. They tried to force a draw a few minutes to full time, which was hopelessly too late.

This was a deserved victory for United who did nothing fancy but stuck to the basics. Their distribution was well timed.